Usher Talks Divorce in O The Oprah Magazine September 2014 Feature

He’s lived most of his life in the public eye, and Usher really has grown from a cocky kid into a mature and successful man.

The “U Remind Me” singer sat down with O The Oprah Magazine to talk about the best mistake he’s ever made- “Getting married at 28. Most people probably think I regret it because I ended up getting divorced, but it helped me learn that sometimes I think I know more than I actually do.”

Usher also sang the praises of his favorite family tradition- “Reunions, or what I call red-cup celebrations: Everybody’s hanging out on the lawn, drinking out of those plastic cups, eating fried chicken, and dancing to loud old-school music. Sometimes the simpler the celebration is, the better.”

Given his longstanding career, the handsome crooner has had the opportunity to learn from the greats. And the best advice he’s received is, “‘If you stay ready, you ain’t gonna get ready.’ James Brown told me that right before we performed together at the Grammys in 2005. I’ve never forgotten it, and I’m always telling people, ‘Well, James Brown once told me…’”

And of course Usher is proud of his impressive shoe collection. “My dress shoes. I shined my grandfather’s shoes as a kid, so I gained an appreciation at an early age for really nice Italian leather shoes.”